Flood-fence



(No Mom.)

G. W. RAMSBURG. FLOOD PBNGB.

No. 492,232. Patented Peb. 21, 189s.

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GEORGE WV. RAMSBURG, OF VAN CLEVESVILLE, l/VEST VIRGINIA. f

FLOOD- FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 492,232, dated February 21, 1893.

Application filed June 11, 1892. Serial No. 436,309. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be itknown that I, GEORGE W. RAMSBUEG, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Van Clevesville, in the countyof Berkeleyand State ot' Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flood-Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the Same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in fences and consists generally in a fence adapted for use in connection with lands which are periodically overliowed by the water from swollen rivers or streams, or from heavy rains, said fence being formed in sections and secured to a line of posts in such a manner as that the overflow will operate partially to disengage the sections and permit thc-m to rest on the ground in a line coincident with the drift, the object being to prevent the fence from being carried away in the event of such overiiow, and to permit the utilization ot' much river and bottom lands new lying waste by reason of the great expense attending the rebuilding of destroyed fences.

The construction, relative arrangement and operation of the several parts constituting my invention will now be described, reference be-l ing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ot' this specification, in which Figure l represents in elevation a portion of a fence embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a plan view and Fig. 3 is a view from above and showing the parts in the positions they assume during an overllow.

A A A represent posts which are firmly set in the ground at suitable distances apart, and to which the sections are connected. Each of said sections comprises two stiles b ZJ connected by wire or other rails c the former be ing preferable. These stiles when in position overlap the Stiles of the adjacent sections a sufficient distance to permit the interposition of the locking hooks presently to be described. 0n the lower end of the stile b is an eye d which is permanently connected by one or more links e to a staple f secured in the lower 'aged or carried away.

end of the post A. The stile Z) is unattached and is free to swing outward in the manner ot' a gate, the hinge being at the point of connection of the stile b' with the stile A.

g g denote revoluble hooks which are secured in the upper and lower ends of each postA in such a manner as to permit the ready turning thereof a small handle g being eniployed for this purpose. The hooks operate to hold the sections in proper relation to the posts A, when turned asshown in Fig. l. In the event however of an expected overflow the hooks are turned `in the direction indicated bythe arrows, and the sections are left unlocked except at the point of connection of the post b with the post A, and are readily susceptible to the pressure ot the dow of water and drift wood, which operates to disconnect the sections and force them to assume the shape shown in Fig. 2. The fence thus presents little or no obstacle to the water and hence there is no liability ot' its being dam- VVhen the water subsides the sections are raised and placed in position and locked by the hooks as in the iirst instance. It will readily be seen that anyone or more ot'` these sections may be utilized as a gate which may be operated by hand in a manner similar to that above described, and hence the employment of a specially constructed gate is unnecessary. i prefer to attach the rails when wire is employed,in such a manner as that the strands may be tightened at any time, and the fence kept in a good solid condition. This may be done in any suitable way, but I prefer to employ in connection with one of the Stiles, eyes h which have threaded shanks extending through and beyond the outer side of the stile', and which are held therein by nuts h. By turning these nuts the wires may be tightened to any desirable extent.

I claim- 1. A dood fence comprising in combination, a line of posts, independent fence sections formed of stiles and loosely connected rails, flexible connections between the lower end ot' one of the stiles and the lower end ot -its adjacent post, and hooks on the posts for teinporarily securing the sections in place, substantially as described and operating in the manner set fort-h.

2. A flood fence comprisingincoinbination, cure the sections in place, substantially as dea line of posts, independent fence `sections scribed andoperatingin the mannerset forth. Io formedof Stiles having eyes thereon,land rails In testimony whereof I afx my signature in loosely connected with said eyes, flexible conpresenoe of two witnesses.

5 nections between the lower end of one of the GEORGE W. RAMSBURG.

Stiles and the lower end of the adjacent post, Witnesses:` and revoluble hooks on the posts having han-f J. M. BILLMEYER, dles thereon, and operating to temporarily se J. XV. DECK 

